Chapter 5: Plans Come To Waste

Night Light sighs in concern as he looks out the window in his castle. Although the kingdom is celebrating the soon to be return of Twilight, the king is still concerned for his daughter. He wonders if she will be brought home safely and hopes that Nightmare Moon hasn't got to her yet.

Night Light sighs as he turns to Jack who is eating a sandwich, "Jack, I'm worried. My daughter hasn't returned yet."

"Oh, don't worry about that, lad. It isn't even after sunset yet." Jack assures the king as he bites into his sandwich. "Calm down, the battle is over and Twilight is good as here."

"Sorry, but I have spent 16 years of worrying, not seeing Twilight since she was taken into the night. I'm worried that Nightmare Moon may have gotten her already. I'm relieved she didn't even get you yet."

"Ha! Nightmare Moon tried to but she hasn't got to me yet, lad! Relax. My sister-in-law didn't make her move yet. Your daughter is safe and will remain that way."

"Yes, but...how is your wife doing, Jack?" Night Light asks Jack, concerning Celestia.

"She and her allies are still looking for Sombra. That son of a bilge rat was responsible for what happened since the beginning." Jack remarks with a smirk. He waves a hoof as Derpy, her court jester, flew into the scene with a plate with certain drinks on it, doing her best not to fall.

"Would you like some wine, Captain Jack? Or the usual drab of rum?" Derpy ask the captain, motioning to the drinks that she is offering.

"I prefer rum, Miss Derpy. Rum is good."

"Okay."

Jack grabs a bottle of wine and a bottle of rum for himself. He adds seriously, "But…don't tell Tia I've been drinking again." Celestia gets upset whenever she finds out that her beloved has been drinking, enough that she forbids from doing so again.

"My lips are sealed, Captain Jack." Derpy said with a salute. Jack chuckles as he pours the wine into a glass for Night Light for him to take.

"All right, lad, time for us to make a toast to the future which Tia and I was looking for to for 16 years!"

"To the future!" Night Light exclaims as he takes his wine glass. The two raises glasses to make a toast. Derpy, grinning, took out a sitar and begins playing as the two begins singing.

Jack: Skumps!

Night Light: Skumps

Jack: A toast to this night

Night Light: The outlook is rosey

Jack: The future is bright

Both: Our children will marry
Our kingdoms unite
Skumps, Skumps, Skumps!

The two laughs happily while Jack drinks some of his rum. He spoke eagerly while pouring some of his own drink into the glass, "Yes, good rum. Now then, let's talk about the new home."

"Wait, new home?" Night Light ask spuzzled, caught off guard by this. As Jack spoke, he unknowingly pours wine into Derpy's mouth; the goofy Pegasus pony drinks it happily.

"Well, why not? Our kids should have a home and raise their own kids, correct?"

"Well, in time, yes."

"To the home then," Jack exclaims as the two friends raise glasses once more. Derpy, a little drunk, plays as the two friends sang once more.

Jack: Skumps!

Night Light: Skumps!

Jack: A toast to the home.

Night Light: One grander by far than
a palace to roam.

Jack: (pouring wine) Let me fill up your glass, that last was all foam.

Both: Skumps! Skumps! Skumps!

The two laughs eagerly. Jack calms down while calling out, "Hey, the plans; the plans!" A Royal Guard for Celestia came in with the plans in his mouth then put it on a wall to unroll, showing the plans to the home, looking like some sort of crystal like tree. "So whatcha think, lad; nothing hard to handle. With a lot of bedrooms, a dining hall, honeymoon cottage. Hay, we even put in the children's room too!"

Derpy meanwhile pours more wine into the sitar, smirking drunkingly. Night Light confused ask, "So wait, you're making it now?"

"Making nothing! It's finished yet! Yes, it was difficult, considering how Tia was away on her mission most of the time, but it's done. By tomorrow, Benjamin and Twilight will move right in."

"Wait, hang on! They aren't even married yet!"

"Well, good thing tonight will solve that problem, eh lad?" Jack asks his friend with a chuckle. He pours the last of the wine into his friend's glass, "All right, now; to the wedding!"

"Jack, hang on! Now I am not against the idea of the home, but I haven't seen Twilight in 16 years! And now, you wanna take her away from me already?" Night Light asks Jack, who gave a look of frown. He doesn't like the tone that his friend is having at all.

"Come on. You want Benjamin to marry your daughter, right?"

"Yes, right, but..."

"And don't you want to see your own grand-foals as well?" Jack asks Night Light waving a hoof at him in frustration. The king should've at least wants to see his own grand-foals so what is his problem?

"Yes, of course, I do...but..." Night Light begins to say, but Jack interrupts him once more.

"What? What's wrong? You must be getting on in years, Night Light; now to the wedding!"

"Jack, try to listen to reason. Twilight doesn't even know anything about this yet."

"So?" Jack asks as he begins to drink his rum from his glass.

"Well, uh...it would be a bit of a shock to her and..." Night Light begins to explain...but Jack, upon hearing that, ends up spitting his rum right out, getting upset than ever.

"Shock ye say, Night Light; Yer saying that me Ben is a shock? And just what be wrong with me Ben? Well, answer me, ye land lubber!"

"Well, nothing, Jack. I only meant--."

"Why does yer daughter nae like me son?!" Jack roars furiously to Night Light. This pirate isn't taking offense to what his friend is saying about the situation lightly.

"Jack…calm down now." Night Light said, trying to calm down the outraged pirate.

"I be not so sure that me son likes yer daughter!"

"Now, see here, Jack Silver--!"

"That's Captain Jack Silver, if ye please, sir. And I'm not so sure that me grandchildren will ever like a land lubber like ye fer a grandpappy!" Jack growls as he pushes Night Light furiously.

"Why, you pompous pillaging, drunken windbag," Night Light yells out angrily at Jack. This pirate is taking this too far!

"Pompous? Drunken? I'm not drunk…and en guarde, ye scurvy land lubber!" The former pirate roars in fury. Jack then grabs a fish and uses it like a sword.

"I'm warning you, Jack…this means war!"

Night Light grabs a plate and uses it as a shield to block Jack's mad attacks, the two fights for a long period of time. Derpy wasn't paying attention or trying to interfere. She continues drinking the rum while lying down underneath the table cloth, sleeping. The two kept on fighting...until both came to their senses, realizing their own weapons. Jack and Night Light laughs embarrassedly at this as well as their argument.

"Now, lad; what are we doing? We're fighting like griffins." Jack said to Night Light with a chuckle.

"Well, yes. You're right. A wedding can fix this up." Night Light said to Jack. Imagine his embarrassment in using a plate to defend against a friend.

"Aye; Anyway, I know that our kids will fall in love with each other. Benjamin has been pining for the filly since her disappearance so that's a big hint right there!"

"Yes, yes. As for the grand-foals, I will make sure that the woodcarvers will make the cradles tomorrow."

"Good to hear that." Jack said with a pleased look. It's great that Night Light is on the same page as he is now.

"Right, to the woodcarver's guild," Night Light exclaims while raising his wine glass.

The two were about to make another toast when they hear a weird noise coming from underneath the table. Jack opens the cloth to reveal Derpy, drunk and asleep in her sitar. The Pegasus pony has too much to drink obviously.

Jack looks up to Night Light, asking, "Should I tell Miss Derpy that that really isn't rum at all?"

"No, Jack…it's better that she sleeps." Night Light said with a sigh. It's best that Derpy just sleeps off her drunken state for now.

Just then, the duo heard a trumpet sound as a voice exclaims, "Now approaching, his royal majesty, Prince Benjamin Maregilligan!"

"Benjamin?" Jack asks in surprise as he quickly leaves the room. His son has already arrived!

Ben, smiling lovingly still, got off of Dragoking as Applejack and Pinkie arrives, catching up with him. Jack shows up, eager that his son has shown up. Of course, the lord didn't realize as to what had happened in the Everfree Forest.

"Hey, Jackie," Pinkie said nervously to Jack. She wonders how Ben's dad will take finding out that his son has met and fallen with a peasant pony of all things.

"Ben, son; Thank goodness you're back!" Jack exclaims, galloping up to Ben before stopping. "Okay, hurry and change into something more suitable. Your future bride is waiting for you soon."

"I've already met her, Dad." Ben said to Jack, much to his surprise upon hearing that.

"Yer have, Benny? Where; When?"

"Once upon a dream, Dad," Then Ben grabbed his father and sang. "I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream--!"

"Benjamin! Ben!" Jack exclaims, surprised and confused by Ben's newest behavior.

"I know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam--!"

"Now, put me down, yer land lubber!" Jack snaps in irritation to Ben. The Earth pony stops his singing and dancing while putting his dad down. "Now…what be all this dream nonsense, eh?"

"It wasn't a dream, Dad. I really did find and meet her. Me, Applejack, Pinkie and Dragoking."

"Yer mean…ye've found Princess Twilight Sparkle? Mistress Applejack and Mistress Pinkie, ye've really found her?"

Pinkie confused, but is pretending to for her own sake, ask, "Uh, found who, Captain Jack?"

"Yew've gotta be joking!" Applejack exclaims nervously to Jack.

"Ben, this be wonderful news." Jack said anxiously, apparently not hearing what Pinkie and Applejack just said. "We must tell Night Light. He'll be really happy to--."

Ben however stops Jack, smiling as he said, "Now wait just a minute, Dad. I never said that it was Twilight Sparkle."

"Yes, yer did say that, Ben. Ye said--."

"I said that I met the filly I was going to marry. Well, to be honest I didn't who she was. She could have been a peasant pony or something."

"What? A peasant girl; ye kidding, right," Jack ask in shock of what Ben's hearing. The whole kingdom is preparing for Twilight's return as well as the wedding. And now Ben is deciding to marry a filly that he just met! The former pirates turn to the others. "Please tell me he's kidding!"

Dragoking shakes his head, meaning no. Pinkie asks awkwardly, "If we say 'no', would you not punish us?"

"Ah...Ah can't lie!" Applejack groans in frustration. She can't tell a lie, no matter how much the mare tries to. "Yer son did met a filly in 'de Everfree Forest an' now he wanna git hitched 'ta her!"

Jack looks more shocked. This cannot be happening! The pirate refuses to hear it! Jack turns back to Ben while protesting frantically, "Yer can't do this tae me, Ben; Yer going to give up yer mother's throne, the Kingdom of Canterlot fer some….some no pony?"

"I guess so, but you'll really like her, Dad." Ben insists to his dad with a smirk.

"Not if I were to sink deep into the darkest depths of Davy Jones's Locker would I prefer some peasant pony over the bride ye've been promised, Benjamin Maregillian! Yer a Prince…and yer gonna marry a Princess, boy; whether ye like it or not."

"Dad, it's just Ben Mare…and you know how much I hate being called by my full name all the time. Besides, you're living in the past…didn't you and Mom marry outside of the tradition?"

"Oh, aye. Yer right, son. We did…we married out of love instead of by the tradition."

"See…it's like I said, you're living in the past, Dad. This is a brand new century nowadays." Ben said to his father with a smile of satisfaction and victory.

"Nowadays, I still be Captain Jack Silver and still husband to Princess Celestia…and I command ye to come to yer senses." Jack orders Ben sternly. He isn't going to let his son pulled the biggest mistake of his life now!

"And marry the filly I love."

"Aye, that, too."

Applejack and Pinkie notice that their friend is getting back onto Dragoking. Obviously he's going out once more to find the cottage in the glen.

"So you approve of this, Captain Jack?" Pinkie asks Jack as she and Applejack prepares to make their own getaway, not wanting to be around when the "fireworks" goes off.

"Well..." Jack said, not realizing what's going on or that Ben and Dragoking are already making their leave.

"Come on, we gotta catch up wit' Ben." Applejack said as she and Pinkie quickly gallops off after Ben and Dragoking.

"I'll see you later, Dad." Ben calls out to Jack as the four quickly leaves the castle gates.

"Aye, I will..." Jack then yelps in shock, realizing what he just said and what's going on now. "Wait, what?! Benjamin!"

As the group makes their getaway, Applejack groans, "Man, am Ah glad we got out o' there in time. Ah wouldn't have wanted 'ta hear Jack scream an' say all thirteen bad words in front of us like the time when we were caught saying one of the thirteen bad words--."

Pinkie groans a bit, remarking, "That was vulgar, but it was fun! Although it almost got me in trouble with the Cakes's when I was unintentionally speaking sailor talk in front of them and the babies, as well as scaring all the customers away. "

"An' yer lucky, Pinkie, 'dat yew Pinkie Promised never 'ta use 'dat kind o' talk in front o' 'de babies or 'de Cakes again…an' 'dat they let you off the hook 'dat time."

"Yeah."

"Come on, guys. My true love await for me." Ben said with a smile. "Just hand me cuff links."

"Okay." Pinkie said, giving a pair of cuff links to the stallion who begins to sing.

Ben: And straighten my tie!

Applejack put a tie around Ben's neck and straightens it up.

Just drench me in rich cologne
And don't ask me why

"Okay." Applejack comments as she threw cologne, though this caught everyone, even Dragoking, to coughs a bit.

Go on and pluck me a boutonniere

Applejack takes a flower, giving to Ben as she sings.

Applejack: Yer're moving up an' walking on air

Applejack gives the flower to Ben who eats it.

Ben: Steppin' out with a star and feeling high
Come polish my wing tips
And call for the car

"Okie-dokie!" Pinkie said. She whistles to Dragoking who grunts in amusement.

I'll sweep her right off her hooves
Wherever we are!

With a giggle, Pinkie gives out clothes to Ben as she sings.

Pinkie: A satin collar and velvet vest!

Ben: I never settled for second best
Steppin' out with a star
Sad times, bye-bye!

Applejack took out a banjo and plays a tune on it. Once she's done, Ben continues the song.

Have I got style?

Ben didn't waste time in putting on some pants, one leg at a time.

Have I got taste?

Pinkie giggles, covering her eyes to give her pal privacy.

On some pony else I swear
This savoir faire
Would be such a waste

Ben finally got his pants on as Applejack kept on playing. The pony kept on singing, putting on some shoes while dancing on Dragoking's back.

So toss my crown now

"Y'all got it, Benny!" Applejack exclaims as she tosses a crown to Ben who caught it and put the thing on.

Ben: I'm ready to fly
Bustin' into the upper crust
As easy as pie!
Just watch my dreams come true
This was somethin' I was born to do
Steppin' out with a star
That star is you!

As the prince put a jacket on, the group stops nearby a lake. Ben grins as he saw what appears to be Iris in the reflection smiling back to him, though it's obviously his imagination. Ben now got off of Dragoking, grabbing a log and dances with it, humming while pretending that it's his true love.

Ben then dances in front of a tree with his shadow. Once he's done however, the group is surprised that the shadow begins dancing by itself!

Pinkie giggles while shaking her head at this, "It's really official, Applejack. He's determined to be with this filly, no matter what."

"Well, as long as Ben's happy, Pinkie…so should we be happy fer him." Applejack remarks with a shrug.

Applejack: Have y'all got class?

Ben: Have I got class!

Applejack: Have y'all got chic?

Ben: Have I got chic!

Applejack: 'Ta think 'dat we poor three
Were no pony
Why only last week!

"Hey, guys!" Pinkie exclaims as she holds up a camera. The ponies and Dragoking poses as the pink pony took a picture. "Ha."

Ben grins, twirling and getting back onto Dragoking's back as he sings once more.

Ben: I'm ready to fly--!

Dragoking with a smirk, bucks up and sending Ben flying right off his back, causing him to hit the ground.

"Ben!" Applejack exclaims as she rushes over to help Ben up.

"You okay, Ben?" Pinkie asks Ben in concern.

"Well at least I could try." Ben said sheepishly. Regardless, he got back up and prepares to finish the song off.

Just watch my dreams come true!
This was something I was born to do!

The ponies smiles as they soon begins dancing, finishing the song off.

Ben, Applejack and Pinkie: Steppin' out with a star
Bye bad times
Steppin' out with a star
Hey good times
Steppin' out with a star
And feelin' high

Once the song over, the trio did a pose with Pinkie cheering, "Yeah!" They all laugh as Ben got back onto Dragoking then heads off to the Everfree Forest, preparing for a meeting that could change things.

Jack, meanwhile, kept on shouting frantically to the departing Ben, "Ben, come back! Ben." The lord sighs in sadness as he came over to the steps, sitting down while groaning, "Oh no. Once Celestia hears about this…I'll never forgive meself…and Night Light will be heartbroken. Oh, how can I ever tell Night Light about this?:

----------------

Nightmare Moon sat on her throne back in Mount Thunderflame. She is still waiting for Gilda's report. Soon the griffin came in, having reported to Sombra in secret before coming back.

"Good news, Nightmare Moon. I found her." Gilda said to Nightmare Moon with a smirk.

"You saw her, Gilda? You really found the Princess Twilight?" Nightmare Moon asks Gilda curiously and hopefully. Had all her 16 years of searching is paying off?

"That's right, Nightmare Moon. I saw her with my own two eyes…and as an added bonus..."

"Yes?"

"She's found true love, but unfortunately…she won't be able to meet him at the cottage tonight. And Rainbow Crash and her friends are taking the Princess back to the castle tonight." Gilda said to Nightmare Moon with a cruel chuckle.

Nightmare Moon nods in satisfaction, petting Gilda as she said, "Excellent work, Gilda. I knew that I could rely on you."

"Anything for you, Nightmare Moon…and anything to see that loser Rainbow Crash and that pompous pirate Jack Silver brought down."

"Indeed…" Then the wicked Queen of Darkness gave a fake sympathetic look as she spoke. "Poor Twilight…Oh she is in for a little surprise. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha."

Unknown to Nightmare Moon however, a familiar presence is peeking in through the window. With a smirk, he said quietly, "Very soon...all of Equestria will be mine, once I've made Twilight Sparkle my queen."

Author's note
Oh no. Jack is upset that Ben is going to marry a peasant pony, though neither of them realize that it's really Twilight! And Nightmare Moon as well as Sombra is plotting! In the next chapter, Twilight is returned home but she isn't happy at all. Things got worse when Nightmare Moon makes her move to make the curse happen, while Sombra reveals himself to the Mystic Ponies. Read, review and suggest!

The extra bit as Ben's group was leaving is a reference to an episode of 'SpongeBob SquarePants' where SpongeBob and Patrick cursed, as well as the movie 'The Great Muppet Caper.